Following a process of qualification rounds, Allan Joyce Architects have been appointed to design an exciting new outdoor visitor hub at the National Trust’s Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. The new hub will provide facilities for visitors wishing to explore Calke Abbey’s extensive grounds. New parking will reduce pressure on the existing parking close to the house and the new building will provide a café and education area with associated toilets. Visitors will also be able to hire bicycles from the hire shop incorporated into the building.

Allan Joyce Architects have recently obtained planning permission for a replacement Joint Cadet Centre for the Air Training Corps (ATC) and Army Cadet Force (ACF), in Hinckley, Leicestershire. The contemporary building is clad in stone gabion walls, metal profiled cladding and black brickwork. The new centre will provide up to date facilities, including offices, lecture rooms and a parade hall. Works to begin on site soon.

We have recently been appointed to undertake the regeneration of Cotgrave Town Centre. This exciting project is part of a wider series of improvements to create a vibrant town centre, increase employment opportunities and building quality new homes. The town centre works involve upgrading the existing shops, creating a new small business centre, building a new multi-service centre, landscaping the central square, improving the children’s play area and renewing parking on the site. The project is currently in early design stages. We will be looking to submit a planning application in July / August 2016.

Allan Joyce Architects have recently obtained planning permission for supported housing for Framework Housing Association in Nottingham City Centre. The works involve the refurbishment of two existing buildings on the site, and the construction of a new building to create seventeen apartments with training rooms, offices and support facilities. At the centre of the development is a landscaped courtyard. A combination of low maintenance gravel areas with seating and lawns, intersected with paths, and thoughtfully positioned planting, will create an external shared space for residents to enjoy.

We are pleased to announce that Antill Street has been shortlisted for three awards in the East Midlands LABC Building Excellence Awards in the following categories: Best Change of Use of an Existing Building or Conversion; Best Small New Housing Development; and Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development. Antill Street was completed earlier this year and includes the conversion of St Andrews Church into eight apartments and three new build apartments for Framework Housing Association. Fingers crossed.

Allan Joyce Architects have recently completed works at Betty’s Tea Room, at RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate. The extension created additional back of house accommodation to expand and better organise the existing facilities. Specialised store rooms and dedicated food preparation areas were created, with cleaning and wash areas, to cater for the demands of the busy tea rooms. New staff facilities, including offices and a meeting room have been created at first floor. The extension has been designed to be in keeping with the existing buildings.

We are very pleased that Gainsborough Foyer has recently won Best Commercial Building at the West Lindsey District Council Building Excellence Awards. We were appointed by Axiom Housing Association to design a building to give young people aged between 16-25 a home, alongside personal support, training and employment. Living accommodation is split over two floors, with support and training rooms located on the ground floor. We worked closely with the design team and Robert Woodhead Ltd to complete the building in April 2015. The project has also been nominated for three awards in the East Midlands LABC Building Excellence Awards.

The new build Methodist Centre in Bingham has been recently completed. The new building contributes to a wider programme of improvements to the local town centre. The elliptical worship space is connected to a large hall, with multipurpose spaces at first floor that can be rented out by the community. The multiuse centre also creates two retail spaces at ground floor giving vitality to the shopping centre, with rentable office space above. A celebration service was held on Sunday, giving the congregation and community a chance to get to know their new church.

We are really pleased to announce that Flower Pod has been shortlisted for the RICS Community Benefit Award 2016. Flower Pod is our straw bale eco building, designed for local charity ReachUK. Straw bales provide structure and insulation for the walls, finished in a breathable lime plaster render; the roof is finished with cedar shingles and insulated with sheep’s wool. The simple building provides two flexible working areas, which can also be rented out by the charity. Flower Pod was recently opened up for the public in the Green 4 event, which raised just over £2,000 for ReachUK.

We are very pleased to announce that Oakwood has been shortlisted for the RICS Residential Awards 2016. Oakwood is a contemporary eco home. The building is orientated on the site to benefit from passive solar gains. It also has high levels of insulation, which is combined with an airtight building envelope and a whole house ventilation system to keep energy demands low. The house features a dramatic double height, open plan living space in its centre, with kitchen at one end, a snug at the other and dining in the centre.